The Buzz
School Community Newsletter
Issue #45
Friday, May 14, 2021
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Announcing the 2021
GILBERT SCHOOL CABE STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS
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BEAU SEGER
Son of Wayne and Paula Seger
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Beau Seger is in the eighth grade and would like to share the fact that he has a hearing disability and had to repeat second grade because of his early struggles. He has a love of reading, especially books like adventure, fantasy, biographies and history that happened in the B.C. time period. Beau enjoys spending time with his family and hanging out together. They play cards, watch TV shows together and also go on adventures on many hiking trails.
Beau is happy to have been chosen for the CABE Award and have the ability to represent his classmates. He feels especially proud that he can be a positive influence and example for other students with disabilities and to show them that they can be as successful as anyone and do great things. He wants to encourage everyone with disabilities to feel positive even when things don't seem to be going well. Beau is extremely proud to represent The Gilbert School.
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EMILY AREL
Daughter of Raymond and Debbie Arel
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Emily Arel is an eighth grade student at The Gilbert School. Everyone that knows Emily can see that sports are a huge part of her life. Her sporting activities include soccer, golf and basketball. She has played soccer for Gilbert for the past two years and has enjoyed playing with all of the girls on her team. During the spring, she golfs with her friends and family. Basketball is, by far, her favorite sport. She has been playing basketball since the third grade and practices every day and doesn't stop trying something new until she is satisfied with her progress. Emily plays AAU basketball and feels fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of Valley United's seventh and eighth grade travel teams as well as the varsity team. Playing for these teams has allowed her to build great friendships and has taught her the importance of teamwork, good sportsmanship and the ability to have PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). Emily feels she has become a better person through her amazing experiences and opportunities at Gilbert. She is grateful to her teachers for their help and support with not only her schoolwork but with everyday life skills. |
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EVAN BLASS
Son of Robert and Jennifer Blass
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Evan Blass is a member of the graduating Class of 2021 who plans to major in Education with a focus in History and minor in Political Science. During his time at The Gilbert School, Evan has had the honor of holding positions such as Vice-President of the National Honor Society, Co-Captain of the Yellow Jacket Varsity Baseball Team, Co-Editor of the 2021 Gilbert School Yearbook, Member of the Executive Board of Student Ambassadors, and Executive Producer and Director of the Gilbert School Broadcasting Class. In addition, Evan enjoys participating in community service activities with his church and has had the ability to attend two mission trips to Washington D.C, where he helped facilitate day camps for underprivileged children and work in soup kitchens to feed the homeless. He also runs in the annual Hartford Marathon Charity 5k in support of Connecticut Children's Medical Center. Evan has also had the honor of winning the Laurel Scholarship and was named the 2020 Festival King. When not in school, Evan spends his time creating digital media using his photography and videography skills. He is incredibly thankful for all of the support that he has received from his peers, teachers, coaches, and administrators while attending the Gilbert School. |
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REBECCA DOWLING
Daughter of Robert and Susan Dowling
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Rebecca Dowling is a senior at The Gilbert School, planning to double major in Political Science and Journalism and achieve her dream as a White House Correspondent. While at Gilbert, Rebecca has participated in many activities with various positions: President of National Honor Society, Class of 2021 Co-President, Student Ambassadors, Chamber Choir, Captain of Varsity Soccer, Indoor Track, and more. Additionally, Rebecca had the honor of participating in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's 2021 Student of the Year program to raise awareness for blood cancer. In her free time, Rebecca likes to volunteer at the local dog rescue and stay active within her community. She is very thankful for this opportunity and appreciates all the support she has received.
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Announcing: The Gilbert Garden |
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The Gilbert School chapter of the National Honor Society is starting a Gilbert Garden. The goal of the garden project is to create a space in which students and staff can benefit from the healthful effects of a garden and gardening. The proposed plan for the spring 2021 garden is to cultivate a safe and beautiful garden space in which our students and staff can take a quiet break, socialize, or even get their hands and knees a little dirty. We will be planting flowering shrubs and herbaceous perennials supplemented with some annual flowers. We have a small budget, but we could use help. Please consider donating to the garden project. In addition to monetary donations, which will be used to purchase compost and plants, we are looking for outdoor seating (old Adirondack chairs or bistro sets which we can refinish) and garden tools. Also, if you have a garden and happen to be dividing your perennials, we would love to incorporate a plant gift.
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Remaining Schedule for Semester |
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May 21 Half day. No Lunch * This is a change in the calendar
Rock Pop Ensemble Performance
May 27 Junior/ Senior Prom- Crystal Peak, Winsted
(No outside guests)
May 28 Remote Learning Day * This is a change in the calendar
May 3-26 AP Exams
May 21 Founders Day
May 31 MEMORIAL DAY - NO SCHOOL
June 1 National Honor Society Induction - ODD (Tuesday)
June 2 Remote Wednesday
June 3 EVEN DAY
June 4-10 High School Exams
June 4-6 "Snoopy" the school play
June 9 8th grade Promotion
June 9- Yearbook dedication lunch and ceremony (staff and seniors only)
June 10- High School yearbook pickup in Mrs. Wood’s room (307)
June 10 Senior Night 5 - 8 pm
June 11 Graduation 5 pm
**More detailed information regarding these events will be given soon.
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Quarantine Changes
In the event of quarantine due to COVID, we are changing the quarantine timelines. Effective May 17, we will be providing the option of a 7-day quarantine, provided we receive a negative COVID PCR test that is performed on Day 5.
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Today we received confirmation that we will host a vaccine clinic for age 12 years and up Saturday May 22, 2021 1:30-3:30 PM at The Gilbert School The MyChart scheduling system will be “open” for appointments for this age group. We might also have a walk up vaccine option and families can come to get vaccinated. There is a consent form which must be filled out for anyone under age 18. Parents will have to accompany their children to the clinic.
In addition, to accommodate this age group Charlotte Hungerford Hospital’s standard clinic at the Torrington Armory is now scheduled for Tuesday 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM. and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM they will accept walk-in patients and appointments via MyChart. For this Saturday they will have over 250 open appointment slots. They will offer both the Pfizer and J&J vaccine in these clinics. People under 18 years of age will have the Pfizer vaccine.
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Vaccination Information
As of May 12, anyone 12 and older can get vaccinated in Connecticut
Schedule Your COVID-19 Vaccine
The state offers residents and workers several options for scheduling their COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
Option 1: Search for a Vaccine Site
Enter your address or zip code to view all the locations nearest you. You can also search for a specific provider to view associated locations.
Click on this link:
Option 2: Schedule by Phone
Prefer to schedule by phone? Select sites offer appointment scheduling via phone. Due to high volume, hold times may vary.
Please note that some vaccine sites allow phone scheduling through a direct clinic phone number. Search by location to view additional sites and scheduling options.
Vaccine Appointment Assist Line
877-918-2224
Available 8:00am to 8:00pm EST, 7 days a week
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Alumna of the Week
Isabella Panagakos
Class of 2013
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What did you do after you graduated?:
"I went to college at Salve Regina University in Providence, Rhode Island. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Global Policy and International Relations. I started working for Towerhill Associates right after that. I started as an executive recruiter for them. Eventually, I moved to San Francisco to work in their west coast office. I eventually climbed through the ranks to become a partner at the firm.
We recently merged with a venture capital firm. Now we do venture capital investments, business development, and recruiting for tech startups. I have been a partner at the firm since January.”
Why did you decide to get into the career that you are in?:
"The company reached out to me after college. At that point, I was thinking that I would take almost any job with a salary in order to gain some experience. I quickly got involved with the diversity inclusion piece of technology. The technology startups that we work with have millions of dollars in the bank and they need help when it comes to diversity in their workplace, including the issues of hiring women and immigrants. Finding ways to diversify the technology workforce interests me. My job became more and more about looking at these businesses and helping them grow. We also focus on how we can change the conversation around technology to be more inclusive."
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Isabella at the Golden Gate Bridge. |
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What do you remember from your time at Gilbert?
"To pinpoint one thing is hard because there are a lot of good memories. I'm still friends with a lot of people I was friends with at Gilbert and we still stay in touch.
I remember a lot of events that they held at school. I became very close with people through the theater program, music, and sports. All of those extra-curricular activities bring you closer to people. From there, you just all hang out together in and out of school.
We had some great times hanging out in Winsted and at Gilbert."
Do you have any family members who attended Gilbert?:
"My brothers Nick and Will (Class of 2004), and my sister Leah (Class of 2000)."
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Isabella writes: "A group of Gilbert alumni and I get together every year to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. We've been doing this for over 10 years!"
Top row from left to right: Ethan Parson '11, Greg Hicks '11, Marcos Bernardes '08, Allison Battista '12.
Bottom row from left to right: Jaron Kolek '11, Amy Bardino '11, Shannon Mcgrane '11, Jess Battistia '11, Maggie Gainer '11.
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What lessons from Gilbert did you carry into the real world?:
"The teachers that were there were all awesome. They instilled principles that I realized were so important after I left Gilbert. You don't realize that when you are in the classroom, the reason why teachers are repeating these important lessons is to instill them in you. When you are 16 you think, 'why do I need this stuff?' But then when you are older you think back and realize that there are so many reasons. Principles like punctuality or how to organize your time are so important. Those are the kinds of skills you don't realize that you are learning while you are there. Then you go off and everyone does their own thing. But over time you realize that these teachers were great at teaching you things without you knowing it."
What advice would you give to current students at Gilbert?:
"I think it has been a weird time over this past year. But, looking back at my time at Gilbert, I kind of wish I took a gap year before going to college. The world is huge and it is yours to explore. The best thing you can do is take some time to think about what you want in life and then reverse engineer how you can get there. Think about where you want to be, even 10 years from now. Then walk back the steps to get there, and don't be afraid to take your time. We think that we have to be a success with graduating from college and doing it on only one timeline. Time isn't linear. There's no such thing as a straight line. You can make it all your own."
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Staff Member of the Week
Breann Beardslee - School Therapist
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Educational background:
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at St. Joseph's University in West Hartford. Started working at Gilbert in 2018.
Where were you before started work at Gilbert?:
"I was at the Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) Wellness Center in Torrington and a satellite clinic here in Winsted."
What made you decide to become a therapist?:
"I always thought it was interesting. I took a psychology class in high school and I became interested in the way the brain works. To me, the way people behave is fascinating. I started working with teenagers while I was working on my Masters Degree at one of CJR's group homes. I just really liked to work with the teenage population."
What do you think of Gilbert?:
"I like it here because I think it's a great community. I like the way everybody here goes about and beyond for the kids and each other."
How would you describe Gilbert to a stranger?:
"It's a very unique school. It's not like any other high school I have ever been to. Everyone is so close and everyone knows so much about each other. I feel like the teachers and the staff here really care about the kids."
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Student of the Week
Rebecca Dowling
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Age: 18
Parents: Sue and Brian Dowling
Favorite classes and why?:
"I have always loved history and government. I love learning about the world and politics and watching history become more inclusive to all perspectives and cultures, allowing it to be more reflective of the truth. History highlights the importance of broadening your knowledge to understand all motives and opinions to continue to progress in a forward direction."
Favorite extracurricular activities and why?:
"This is such a hard question! I have participated in so many activities in high school and each of them has a special place in my heart. I loved being a student officer and a student ambassador and a Peer Leader. I loved being on the track team and the soccer team where I formed some of my closest bonds."
What will you remember from your time at Gilbert?:
"My community and knowing everyone. I think that is what I will miss most when I first go to college. I have enjoyed the comfort of a small community and turning every corner to see a familiar face. The Gilbert community has also done so much for me that I will always be incredibly grateful for. Without the opportunities I have been offered here, I would not be who I am today."
How does it feel to be named the Valedictorian for your class?:
"Honestly, I think I am still in shock. I have worked towards this my entire life and to have it become a reality is incredible. It is a dream come true. I feel proud and grateful to have been supported by such wonderful parents, friends, and teachers as I pursued this goal."
What are your plans for the future after you graduate?:
"I will be attending Marist College in the fall and double majoring in Political Science and Journalism. I hope that I will be able to use the skills I hone there to one day become a White House or Political Correspondent at a major news network."
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Athlete of the Week
Aiden Blanchette
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Parent: Robert Blanchette
Age: 14
Sports: Soccer, basketball, and golf.
Why did you chose to play those sports?:
"At a young age I was very interested in all three of them. I have just grown to love each and every sport."
What have you gotten out of playing those sports?:
"With basketball, I have gotten a lot of teamwork skills and communication skills. What I have learned in basketball has helped me in every day life when it comes to communication.
When it comes to soccer, I have learned about teamwork. For golf, I have learned skills about how to stay mentally fit and not to get frustrated about little things that can go wrong."
What is your strategy for those sports?:
"For soccer, it's about always looking at my teammates and passing the ball in order to get it up the field. For basketball, it's the same but it's more about communicating with each other to get up the court. If someone messes up, you have to move on and go to the next play. For golf, you have to just keep calm. If you shoot a bad shot, you have to remember that each shot is a new shot and you have a chance to do better."
What is your advice for people who might want to get into these sports?:
"Keep your mind on everything. Never get mad at your teammates. Always communicate with them just in case something goes wrong."
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Gilbert School bands play outdoor concert |
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“Hello, and welcome to an actual live concert!” Music Teacher Adam Atkins said in amazement at the beginning of the first live music concert in over a year by Gilbert School music students on Wednesday, May 12. |
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While it might have seemed very strange for some to have a classical music concert at a parking lot, the concert was held at the lot to ensure social distancing. |
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Parents listened from their cars and around the parking lot as their children performed various songs by Thomas Ravenscroft, Melchior Franck, Victor C. Johnson, and Randal Standridge. |
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Coach's Corner
By Buckley Morgan, Athletic Director
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The Yellowjackets baseball team playing against Wolcott Tech on Friday, May 7. |
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The time to get out and enjoy some Gilbert spring sports is winding down quickly.
Tennis is down to our last full week. Tennis will celebrate their seniors on Monday May 17th during the home game against Thomaston. Tennis will have their BL tournament on 19 May.
Softball has about four games left and will celebrate their senior night on 24 May against Shepaug.
Baseball has already celebrated their senior night. Baseball has only two more weeks of play before they start their playoffs.
Track only has one more meet until the BL track championships on the 22nd.
Golf has only three more meets before they start their all star tournament on June 1st.
We recently received approval for our football Coop to include Housy. We are now a Coop of three schools, Housatonic, Northwestern and Gilbert. The team name and colors will remain the same as it has been. We look forward to adding Housy to our roster. This year they will be adding about 4 or 5 athletes to the team.
We need to remind everyone that the Covid rules are still in place. We still can not allow any students to attend games, home or away. Masks are still required if you can not socially distance from others outside of your family. I suggest you contact the away school to make sure they are allowing visiting spectators.
See you at the game!
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GILBERT SPORTS SPECTATOR UPDATE
The Gilbert School is now allowing parents of the visiting school to attend our home events. We ask that you follow our COVID guidelines while at Gilbert sporting events. Maintain proper social distance from nonfamily members and wear masks while in attendance. We greatly appreciate all of our spectators and thank you for your patience throughout this school year.
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Food Service Schedule May |
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April 22, 2021
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,
I hope this informational letter finds everyone safe, healthy, and excited about the beginning of having our students back to school four days a week.
I would like to begin with the changes that will be made with the food pick up now that students will be starting to come back full time. As students begin to return to school four days a week with Wednesday being a cohort day, they will only be eligible for one free breakfast and one free lunch for the cohort day. This would be cohort group D. Students that choose to change or stay in cohort group C are eligible for five days of free breakfast and free lunch. Families that have been picking up food for students in cohort groups A and B will continue to pick up free breakfast and free lunch until their child/children have returned to school four days per week. Once they have returned they will be eligible for a one day pick up of one free breakfast and one free lunch. If they choose to move to cohort group C they will be eligible for five days of free breakfast and free lunch.
Pick up times:
Monday pick-ups will begin at 9:30-12:30
Tuesday pick-ups will begin at 9:30-12:30
Wednesday pick-up will begin at 9:30-12:30
For the families that would like to pick up for five days please email or call Lynn Metcalf Director of Food Services at the email or phone number in the side bar. Please follow the same instructions if you would like to pick up for one day. Who is eligible for Free breakfast and Free lunches? Anyone 18 years old or younger, at home learning, toddlers, students that are at home learning and attend a different school can pick up food at The Gilbert School.
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No one guessed correctly. |
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Google Classroom Cheat Sheet |
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Attention Gilbert Alumni
We Want to Stay in Contact With You!
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The Gilbert School
200 WIlliams Avenue
Winsted, CT 06098
860-379-8521
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